Film Industry Analysis

10 Things you should have in your film utility bag on a budget.

Lets start first with something you must have in your kit no matter what. Yes, that’s right, a camera of course. Camera’s can get very expensive very quickly. Remember it’s simply a tool and what you do with it is key. We list these items because we have analyzed a lot of gear and we believe these items are the best for their value. We recommend you to shop around to see what best suits you. Your would be camera is your biggest investment.

CAMERA

1 ) Panasonic GH4 – $999.99 BODY ONLY

The GH4 is a great little mirrorless camera with lots of cool features such as 4k, high frame rate modes and options for external high bit depth recording.

STABILIZATION

2) Manfrotto Tripod – $175

An entry level tripod should hold all of these camera very well such as the one below. Make sure you get a nice fluid head for smooth pan and tilts though as this will be key in making good shots.

3) Neewer Stabilizer – $79.99

Another great addition to any new set up is a stabilizer to help you get very good shots on the move. Although they may take a little while to get good at, these stabilizers to great with the small cameras above.

4) MEDIA

One of the worst problems while on a shoot is maxing out a memory card or running out of battery. Make sure you always carry extras of both to relieve stress and make sure your project goes smoothly. Also make sure that the memory card is capable of recording at a high enough bitrate that your camera can record at.

5) BATTERIES

Audio

With a handheld field recorder you can use their internal microphones mounted on your camera or connect an external one. It is recommended that you use a directional shotgun mic and a boom pole.

One of the most asked questions you hear from new filmmakers is “How do I achieve a film look?” and one of the first answer you hear around is “With Lighting”. Here are some options for you to add in your lighting kit and don’t starve to death: